Trigger Assembly with Captive Disconnector

ABSTRACT

Provided is a trigger assembly that helps prevent malfunctioning of trigger assemblies in firearms. This is accomplished by the expedient of a convex curved projection on the upper surface of the actual trigger of the trigger assembly. Interfacing with this convex surface on the trigger is a mating concave curved projection having a surface with a radius that is similar to the radius of the trigger&#39;s concave curved projection. The trigger&#39;s concave curved projection extends relatively downwardly from the bottom side of the actual hammer of the trigger assembly. The relationship of the trigger and the hammer of the trigger assembly provides a trigger/hammer interface when the convex curved projection of the trigger is proximate the concave curved projection of the hammer. In this trigger assembly there is a captive disconnector having a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection formed as a portion of the disconnector. The stabilizing projection is generally opposite from the portion of the disconnector having a hook or small ledge where there is contact between the projecting elements of the disconnector and of the hammer. This disconnector engagement stabilizing projection limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer from moving away from the disconnector engagement location of the trigger assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention is a trigger assembly that prevents the forward report ofthe trigger. To accomplish this a convex curved projection one the uppersurface of the actual trigger of the trigger assembly. A mating concavecurved projection extends relatively downwardly from the bottom side ofthe actual hammer of the trigger assembly. This provides atrigger/hammer interface when the convex curved projection of thetrigger is proximate the concave curved projection of the hammer.

A second element of the trigger assembly, the captive disconnector,disclosed here comprises a disconnector engagement stabilizingprojection which is formed as a portion of the disconnector generallyopposite from the portion of the disconnector having a hook or smallledge where there is contact between the projecting elements of thedisconnector and of the hammer. This disconnector engagement stabilizingprojection limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projectionof the hammer from moving away from the disconnector engagement locationof the trigger assembly.

Description of Known Art

The trigger presented in this invention is a modular trigger that isused primarily in rifles and most usually in automatic andsemi-automatic rifles. A version of a trigger similar to the triggerpresented herein, but lacking the captive disconnector and the convexcurved projection of the trigger and the interfacing concave curvedprojection of the hammer, presented in this trigger assembly, is shownin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/492,065, herein incorporated byreference.

Applicant believes that the material incorporated above is“non-essential” in accordance with 37 CFR 1.57, because it is referredto for purposes of indicating the background of the invention orillustrating the state of the art. However, if the Examiner believesthat any of the above-incorporated material constitutes “essentialmaterial” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.57(c)(1)-(3), applicants willamend the specification to expressly recite the essential material thatis incorporated by reference as allowed by the applicable rules.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device that prevents the forward reportof a trigger of a trigger assembly.

It also provides a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection thatlimits the travel of a disconnector interfacing projection of thetrigger assembly's hammer from moving away from the disconnectorengagement location of the trigger assembly.

An advantage of this invention is that this device is an easyreplacement of a trigger that doesn't have the captive disconnectorfeature presented here.

It is also an advantage to this invention in that it can be installed atthe manufacturing facility of a weapon manufacturer without the need forretooling of the lower receiver. Thus there are no added machining costsfor manufacturers to incorporate the adjustable pull trigger in theirlower receivers.

Another advantage is that a person or persons assembling a rifle fromcomponent parts can fit this device in the lower receiver that she or heis using for the assembly without a need to have a special lowerreceiver or special machining to accommodate this adjustable trigger.

Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are describedbelow in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unlessspecifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in thespecification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, andaccustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts.The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographersif desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers,to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specificationand claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further,expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explainhow it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clearstatements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is theinventors' intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaningto the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification andclaims.

The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar.Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be furthercharacterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term,or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptiveterms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts ofEnglish grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms,or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases begiven their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in theapplicable arts as set forth above.

Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards andapplication of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. Thus, theuse of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the DetailedDescription or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended tosomehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C.§ 112, ¶6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6 are sought to be invoked to define theinventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exactphrases “means for” or “step for, and will also recite the word“function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of[insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases anystructure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even whenthe claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or“step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also reciteany structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, orthat perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of theinventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. Moreover,even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6 are invoked to define theclaimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limitedonly to the specific structure, material or acts that are described inthe preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and allstructures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function asdescribed in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or thatare well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures,material or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description when considered in connection withthe drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of the trigger assembly having a captivedisconnector; the convex curved projection on the upper surface of theactual trigger of the trigger assembly; and mating concave curvedprojection extending relatively downwardly from the bottom side of theactual hammer of the trigger assembly.

FIG. 2 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the trigger used in thetrigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the disconnector used inthe trigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a depiction, in elevation view, of the hammer used in thetrigger assembly shown in FIG. 1.

Elements and acts depicted in the figure are illustrated for simplicity.They are presented to illustrate the invention to assist in anunderstanding thereof. The figure is not necessarily been renderedaccording to any particular sequence, size, scale or embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will beunderstood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussedmore generally in order to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases,a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implementthe various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation isto be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are manydifferent and alternative configurations, devices and technologies towhich the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of theinvention is not limited to the examples that are described below.

As mentioned above, this invention has to do with rifles andparticularly the removable trigger assembly carried in the lowerreceiver of a rifle. This modified trigger assembly may replace similartrigger assemblies that don't have the disconnector feature and/or thehammer travel-limiting feature included in the trigger as this triggerdoes.

FIG. 1 is a depiction of a trigger assembly with various springs,bearings and adjustment elements left out of the depiction for clarity.The hammer 10 is shown proximate the disconnector 12 and the trigger 14.The hammer 10 and the trigger 14 are pivotably mounted in a housing (notshown). The hammer 10 will rotate in a direction away from the pulldirection of the trigger 14 such that the sear 16, shown angularlybefore the sear engagement end 20 of the trigger restrains the hammerfrom rotating clockwise, through spring pressure (spring not shown), inFIG. 1 until the trigger is pulled to fire the host weapon. When thehammer 10 is in a ready to fire position with the sear engagement end 20interfacing with the sear 16 the trigger holding the trigger assembly ina fixed, but ready to fire position.

FIG. 1 shows the hammer 10 having concave curved projection 22 extendingrelatively downwardly from the bottom side of the actual hammer of thetrigger assembly. A convex curved projection 24 of the trigger 14 isproximate the concave curved projection 22 of the hammer. In FIG. 1these concave and convex surfaces are in contact, thus preventing thehammer 10 from rotating counter-clockwise in this view. In the ready tofire position the concave 22 and convex 24 curved projections will notbe in contact as the hammer will be rotated generally clockwise in FIG.1 with the sear engagement end 20 of the trigger interfacing with thesear 16.

The disconnector 12 in FIG. 1 is shown pivotally carried through arotatable element 26 formed on the disconnector in a recess 30 of thetrigger 14. The disconnector 12 includes an engagement stabilizingprojection 32 not found on known disconnectors. This engagementstabilizing projection 32, also referred to as a wall or a limiter,limits the travel of the disconnector interfacing projection 34 of thehammer 10 from moving away from the disconnector engagement location ofthe trigger assembly.

FIGS. 2-4 are component parts of the trigger assembly that are modifiedfrom what is normally known in the trigger assembly art. These threeparts are only three of the components that make up a trigger assemblybut these are the parts modified to make this captive disconnectorimprovement of prior known trigger assemblies.

In summary the invention comprises a trigger assembly having a modifiedhammer, a modified trigger, and a modified disconnector. The hammercomprises a concave projection extending outwardly from the pivot pointof the trigger. The concave projection generally extends from about the12:00 o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger whenthe hammer is pivotable mounted in a workable position in the frame ofthe host trigger assembly housing to about the 2:00 o'clock positionrelative to the pivot point of the trigger. The trigger itself has aconvex projection generally extending from about the 12:00 o'clockposition relative to the pivot point of the trigger to about the 2:00o'clock position relative to the pivot point of the trigger. These“clock” positions can be longer or shorter based on the nuances oftrigger design. The modification to the known disconnector is theinclusion of the disconnector interfacing projection 34 shown clearly inFIGS. 1 and 3. Normally a disconnector will have a cavity to accommodatethe disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer. In this modifieddisconnector there is a wall or engagement stabilizing projection 32providing for the non-latching surface 36 of the hammer to interfacewith the engagement stabilizing projection 32 of the disconnector.

While the invention is described herein in terms of preferredembodiments and generally associated methods, the inventor contemplatesthat alterations and permutations of the preferred embodiments andmethods will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a readingof the specification and a study of the drawings.

Accordingly, neither the above description of preferred exemplaryembodiments defines or constrains the invention.

1. A trigger assembly comprising: a hammer having a concave curvedprojection; a trigger having a convex curved projection locatedproximate the concave curved projection of the hammer.
 2. The triggerassembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a disconnectorhaving a disconnector engagement stabilizing projection.
 3. Theinvention in accordance with claim 2 further comprising: the convexsurface on the trigger capable of interfacing with the concave curvedprojection of the hammer, the convex surface of the hammer having aradius substantially identical to the radius of the trigger's concavecurved projection whereby; the relationship of the trigger and thehammer of the trigger assembly provides a trigger/hammer interface whenthe convex curved projection of the trigger is proximate the concavecurved projection of the hammer.
 4. The invention in accordance withclaim 3 wherein the hammer includes a lower surface and the concavecurved projection of the hammer extends relatively downwardly from thelower surface of the hammer.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim4, the trigger assembly further comprising a captive disconnector havinga disconnector engagement stabilizing projection formed as a portion ofthe disconnector.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 whereinthe stabilizing projection of the captive disconnector furthercomprises: the disconnector having a hook; the stabilizing projectionlocated opposite from the hook of the disconnector.
 7. The invention inaccordance with claim 6 wherein the disconnector comprises an engagementstabilizing projection; and the hammer comprises a disconnectorinterfacing projection; the engagement stabilizing projection limits thetravel of the disconnector interfacing projection of the hammer frommoving away from the disconnector engagement location of the triggerassembly.